We will be in Paris on the first Sunday of December and are interested in taking advantage of the free museum entry. I see that you can reserve an entry time for the Pompidou Centre, but it looks like the Musee Rodin and Sainte Chapelle/Conciergerie don’t require a timed entry ticket for the free day.
Have I read the websites correctly? And, if you’ve been to the museums on the free Sundays, which of the above sites would be a better bet in terms of lines and crowds?
Thanks in advance!
We reserved the Pompidou last Sunday --- the museum staff went on strike and so nothing. We then headed for the Chateau Vincennes which was also free (although we hadn't even thought about that). It was totally uncrowded. I would not choose a major museum on a free day but the many smaller less trafficked spots might be ideal.
As the day goes on, the lines get longer, so I'd be at the Rodin or La Sainte Chapelle before opening time, whichever opens first, then go to the second. The Pompidou is a huge site to visit, but it's open well into the evening. You could get your timed tickets for early afternoon. Sunday lunch is a big deal in France, so fewer people will be entering the Pompidou early in the afternoon as opposed to later. BTW, the National Museum of Modern Art is two floors and worth a few visits. In addition, there are multiple exhibits in the building.
BTW, negotiations over future employment are ongoing at the Pompidou, so the strike Janettravels encountered could happen again
You can only secure free tickets for the free first Sunday of the month on a specific date of the previous month. I believe November 3rd was the date in order to secure December tickets. I am in Paris now and was here for the first Sunday of the month for November and I needed to secure tickets on October 2.
Thanks for the replies!
Janet, does this apply to all the museums or just some? We have acquired tickets to the Pompidou Centre. Are you saying that smaller museums like the Rodin Museum don’t show a place to order tickets because it’s too late to get tickets?
